Damage from fumble not over yet

Kevin Lynch, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published 4:00 am, Monday, September 25, 2006

Photo: Michael Maloney

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49ers Frank Gore (#21) fumbles at the 1 yard line. The ball was returned for a eagles TD in the 3rd quarter. The San Francisco niners play the Philadelphia Eagles at Monster Park in San Francisco on Sept. 24th, 2006.
Michael Maloney /The Chronicle Ran on: 09-25-2006
Frank Gore lost a fumble for the third game in a row, and the ramifications of the play could stay with the 49ers for quite some time.
Ran on: 09-25-2006
Frank Gore lost a fumble for the third game in a row, and the ramifications of the play could stay with the 49ers for quite some time. less

49ers Frank Gore (#21) fumbles at the 1 yard line. The ball was returned for a eagles TD in the 3rd quarter. The San Francisco niners play the Philadelphia Eagles at Monster Park in San Francisco on Sept. 24th, ... more

Photo: Michael Maloney

Damage from fumble not over yet

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The crowd roared as if it were a playoff game, believing the 49ers could mount a comeback and erase the Eagles' 24-3 halftime lead.

Faced with 3rd-and-goal from the Eagles' 1 on the 49ers' second drive of the third quarter, coaches called "50 Blast." The left guard pulls to the right, the fullback leads the play and the running back follows those two big bodies right into the end zone. At least in theory.

In reality, Frank Gore thundered into the Eagles' surging defensive line and his right arm was struck by the helmet of Philadelphia safety Brian Dawkins. The ball flopped on the field.

Defensive tackle Mike Patterson scooped up the ball and rumbled 98 yards for a momentum-turning touchdown.

The play could have deeper ramifications for the season.

It was the third fumble for Gore in three games, including last week when he lost the ball on a goal-line play against the Rams. Against the Eagles, Gore not only fumbled again but he strained his abdominal muscle on the play, headed to the locker room, and never returned.

After the play, rookie Vernon Davis lay at the 49ers' 40 with what Davis described as a calf strain and fracture of his right fibula. Davis said after the game that he'll miss four weeks.

No one's sure how long Gore will be out; he's listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Kansas City.

But possibly more important are his fumbling woes and his mental state after his third turnover. Gore had left by the time reporters were allowed in the locker room.

Players know how passionate Gore is about the game, and they seemed more concerned about Gore's reaction to his turnovers than his physical ability to protect the ball.

"Frank is an extremely talented running back and we need Frank on this team," center Eric Heitmann said. "He needs to understand from our perspective if you fumble the ball, that's one play. ... Turnovers happen, you have to let it go."

Gore went through a drill last week with a football in both hands and elastic bands attached to the noses of each ball. Running backs coach Bishop Harris then tugged on the balls from different angles, attempting to pop the balls loose.

Gore held tight to the balls in the drill, but obviously doesn't cling to it during the games.

Against the Cardinals in the opener, the ball was poked from his grasp from behind while Gore was going down. Against the Rams, Gore started squirming for yardage while he was in the air, trying to vault into the end zone. The ball appeared to come out almost on its own.

Last week, 49ers coach Mike Nolan said he didn't want to take Gore's ability to fight for yardage away from him by cramming his head with thoughts about ball security. Nolan now might re-think that strategy.

"I have spoken to him about the other two" fumbles, Nolan said. "It concerns me, yes."

What would help is better blocking on goal line plays. The team was 0-for-5 at the goal line Sunday until rookie running back Michael Robinson powered in from the 1 in the third quarter. Robinson flattened Dawkins, who left the game and didn't return.

Robinson also scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter, and the former Penn State quarterback probably won himself a new role on the offense.

The 49ers also ran left on both of Robinson's runs, which might be another feature of their goal-line attempts in the future.

In the meantime, the team will try to recover from a play that could haunt them.